Pipe Welder Trainee - Entry Level Apprenticeship

Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc. is a locally-owned, premier custom refrigeration system company that provides a one-stop shop for our valued customers. We are proud to provide everything from custom designed refrigeration systems to upkeep and maintenance for our clients. Because of our continuous growth, we are looking for qualified new teammates who share our drive and vision.

We are seeking a Pipe Fitter/Welder Trainee for a nationwide traveling position. This person will be responsible for various types of weld preparation (including fitting), welding and weld finishing operations to manufacture product to customer drawings, specifications, or other forms of instruction. Advancement opportunities are available. Travel is required.

This position is perfect for a recent graduate of a pipe welding program and is looking to get their foot in the door in this highly lucrative trade! 

Why work for us? We can offer you a career path and training to advance your career to the next level! We offer competitive salary, full benefits, substantial retirement packages (15% dollar for dollar match!), and growth opportunities to establish a career. Simply put, we are looking to invest time and money into developing the most elite team in the refrigeration industry. If you want to be the best in the business, this position is for you!

Company Values:

Our company focuses on four core values: Safety, Quality, Experience and Reliability. Innovative Refrigeration Systems not only meets the needs of our customers, but exceeds their expectations. We hold ourselves to a higher standard, and pursue ever-improving quality. As a full service company, our customers have come to count on our commitment to excellence in every system and service we provide.

• Safety: Our company is one of the few in the state of Virginia that is OSHA SHARP certified which means we are a model for workplace health and safety. The safety of our employees is a top priority for us.
• Quality: We settle for only the best, and our customers know when they work with us that they are getting the best-in-class products and services.
• Experience: We focus on ensuring our staff have the experience necessary to thrive in their career. We do this by offering apprenticeship opportunities, our self-guided STAR training program, and by placing a heavy focus on internal training.
• Reliability: High quality product from the start is critical in sustaining long-lasting relationships with our customers. From design, to construction, and continuing into service and aftermarket support, our team offers unbeatable full life-cycle refrigeration expertise.

Training Course Overview:

The candidate will travel to our manufacturing facility to work closely with our fabrication shop team along with our Welding Instructor in a very hands-on, detail focused training program that is expected to last 16 weeks overall. In the initial stages of the training program you will perform helper/laborer work for up to 8 weeks. This time period will be used to gauge your work ethic and motivation. After the initial 8-week training program, you will move into our manufacturing environment to do other work as required to continue your training, including but not limited to: pipe welding, pipe fitting, blueprint reading, structural welding, rigging, painting, grinding, insulating, carpentry, and other general laborer work as required. Once we have deemed you a fit for the program you will join the 10-day welding trainee course. During the 10-day training course, you will work towards being able to pass a 6G pipe test, 3G plate test, various pipe fitting assemblies, and all other aspects of the pipe welding trade (pipefitting, blueprint reading, tool usage, etc.). The more you learn about our production processes, the more valuable you are to our team! Once you have proven you are able to pass this test and master all other aspects of the job over the 16-week program, you will be signed off to work with our traveling construction team on a 10 day on, 4-day off schedule. This position is designed to transition into our Pipe Welder Apprenticeship program upon completion of the training program.

Please note: This is not a traditional training school. This is a boot-camp-like program that will prepare you to work in the pipe fitting and welding field. This is a compressed, intense, fast-paced and challenging training course. You will not be welding for the entire duration of this program. Other work is required in addition to welding.

Key Duties:

• Position the weld set up, fit the piping and perform welds under guidance from project supervisors
• Complete open root welding (no insert)
• Assist in other areas of the jobsite as required – including welder helper work, painting, insulation, carpentry, and other general construction labor tasks
• Perform structural and pipe welding on manufacturing assemblies as required
• Perform construction jobsite 6G pipe fitting/welding on high pressure piping systems upon completion of the training program
• Perform load rigging, torch cutting, and leveling with use of measurement tools under guidance from a project supervisor
• Operate grinder and wire wheel
• Other duties as needed on job sites

Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a 6G weld test before being approved to move to the traveling construction team (Tested on 2" schedule 80 steel stick 60/10 root, 70/18 cap)
• Must be a graduate of a reputable welding school that focuses on 6G pipe welding OR have prior relevant welding experience. Prefer certifications showing the ability to pass a 6G test 
• Ability to perform pipe fitting proficiently, or be willing and able to learn this skill very quickly
• Willingness to complete welder helper/laborer work as needed, including but not limited to: pipe welding, pipe fitting, blueprint reading, structural welding, rigging, painting, grinding, insulating, carpentry
• We require all candidates to have a minimum of 6 months of construction or labor intensive work experience, with a high preference to prior welding experience
• Extensive travel required (typical tour is 10 days from the Tuesday of 1st week to the Thursday of 2nd week - with 10-12 hour days). This schedule will begin once you are approved to transfer to the construction team. Otherwise you will work a modified tour schedule until you have completed the program. The modified schedule will typically have you traveling one day earlier and later than the regular tour schedule
• Must have a valid driver’s license, and be capable of driving up to 15 hours away from home
• Ability to operate industrial equipment including forklifts, scissor lifts, etc.
• Position requires pre-employment drug screening, criminal background screening, and driving record check. If you have had a DUI within the past 5 years you are not eligible for employment at this time
• This position is a safety sensitive position and will require pre-employment and regular drug testing

Benefits:

• Retirement plan; company matches dollar for dollar up to 15%
• Health insurance; company pays 75% of the premiums for employee/family
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Weekly pay
• Competitive vacation & holiday pay
• Supplemental insurance available (Aflac)
• Short-term & long-term disability coverage
• Accidental death/dismemberment coverage after one year of employment
• Life insurance coverage after one year of employment
• Employee referral incentives
• Opportunities for advancement, professional development, training opportunities, and apprenticeship programs available
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental vehicles, and other company discounts for eligible positions